Whidden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Whidden is most likely a derivative of the Old English word ‘hwita’, meaning “white,” but may be rooted in the Welsh or Cornish language.

Early Origins of the Whidden family

The surname Whidden was first found in Chagford, Devon, when the name was recorded in the Mabinogion (a collection of ancient Welsh bardic tales, particularly the collection of 12th-century knightly romances translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, also known as ‘The Red Book of Hergest’).

Early History of the Whidden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whidden research.

Whidden Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Whidden, Whiddon, Whydon, Whydn and others.

Whidden Ranking

In the United States, the name Whidden is the 10,690^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]

 Whidden migration to the United States +

An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Whidden: 

Whidden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• G Whidden, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [2]
• William M. Whidden, aged 36, who settled in America, in 1893

Whidden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Stephen Whidden, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
• F. B. Whidden, who landed in America, in 1909
• Austen C. Whidden, aged 10, who settled in America, in 1910
• Harry F. Whidden, aged 40, who immigrated to Peabody, Massachusetts, in 1913
• Robert G. Whidden, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1914